Latest Waves (WAVES) Price Analysis

By CMC AI
18 January 2026 10:11PM (UTC+0)

Why is WAVES’s price down today? (18/01/2026)

TLDR

Waves (WAVES) fell 0.49% in the past 24h, underperforming a broadly flat crypto market. The dip reflects bearish technical signals, exchange delisting risks, and muted altcoin sentiment.

  1. Bearish Technical Setup – Key indicators signal oversold conditions with no clear reversal catalyst.

  2. Delisting Overhang – ProBit’s November 2025 delisting announcement continues to pressure liquidity.

  3. Altcoin Weakness – Capital rotation favors Bitcoin (58.93% dominance) over smaller caps like WAVES.

Deep Dive

1. Technical Weakness (Bearish Impact)

Overview: WAVES trades at $0.674, below its 7-day SMA ($0.68) and 30-day SMA ($0.69). The MACD histogram (-0.0022) and RSI (44.34) confirm bearish momentum, while the price struggles near the 23.6% Fibonacci resistance ($0.716).

What this means: Persistent failure to reclaim $0.69–$0.72 suggests weak demand. The 200-day SMA ($0.89) looms as a distant resistance, discouraging speculative buyers.

What to watch: A sustained break above $0.69 could signal short-term relief, while a drop below $0.645 (swing low) may accelerate selling.


2. Exchange Delistings (Mixed Impact)

Overview: ProBit Global delisted WAVES on November 7, 2025, following KuCoin’s September 2025 Earn product removal. While WAVES remains on major exchanges like Binance, reduced accessibility erodes liquidity.

What this means: Delistings often trigger sell-offs from users migrating to other platforms. However, Waves’ recent Biconomy listing (December 2025) partly offsets this by attracting new traders.


3. Altcoin Sentiment Drain (Bearish Impact)

Overview: The Altcoin Season Index sits at 27 (Bitcoin Season), with BTC dominance at 58.93%. WAVES’ 24h volume ($6.14M) lags behind its 60d average, suggesting fading speculative interest.

What this means: Investors favor Bitcoin amid macroeconomic uncertainty, leaving smaller caps like WAVES vulnerable to low-volume price swings.


Conclusion

WAVES’ dip reflects a mix of technical headwinds, lingering delisting concerns, and a risk-off tilt in crypto markets. While the project’s upcoming testnet upgrades (instant finality) and AI tool integrations offer long-term potential, short-term sentiment remains fragile.

Key watch: Can WAVES hold $0.645 support, and will the December testnet progress revive developer activity? Monitor exchange inflow/outflow data for signs of accumulation.

Why is WAVES’s price up today? (17/01/2026)

TLDR

Waves (WAVES) rose 1.91% in the last 24h, outperforming the broader crypto market (+0.63%). This follows a 3.34% gain over the past month. Here are the main factors:

  1. Testnet Progress: Waves activated instant finality on testnet in December, aiming for ~2s transaction finality.

  2. Ecosystem Funding: Units Network (Waves L2) secured $10M in August 2025 for AI tools, boosting long-term sentiment.

  3. Technical Rebound: Price held above key support at $0.691 (50% Fibonacci level) after recent declines.

Deep Dive

1. Testnet Progress (Bullish Impact)

Overview: Waves activated instant finality on its testnet in December 2025, leveraging its microblock architecture to achieve transaction finality in about two seconds. This upgrade targets faster confirmations and improved user experience.
What this means: Faster finality could enhance Waves' competitiveness for dApps and DeFi, potentially attracting developers and users. Although still on testnet, progress signals commitment to scaling, which may have lifted investor confidence.
What to look out for: Mainnet launch timeline and adoption metrics post-upgrade.

2. Ecosystem Funding & AI Tools (Bullish Impact)

Overview: Units Network, an EVM-compatible L2 on Waves, raised $10M from Nimbus Capital in August 2025 to develop AI-powered tools like an AI Launchpad and Liquidity Manager.
What this means: The funding validates Waves' ecosystem potential and could drive developer activity. AI tools might automate DeFi strategies, improving capital efficiency and demand for WAVES.
What to look out for: Traction of AI tools and their impact on Total Value Locked (TVL).

3. Technical Rebound & Market Context (Mixed Impact)

Overview: WAVES is up 1.91% in 24h but down 2.07% over the week. RSI (14) at 44.43 suggests neutral momentum, while price trades above the 50% Fibonacci retracement level ($0.691) but below key moving averages.
What this means: The bounce may reflect oversold relief after recent declines, amplified by modest altcoin inflows. However, low volume (-38.27%) signals weak conviction, and MACD remains bearish.
What to look out for: A sustained break above the 30-day SMA ($0.68967) to confirm bullish reversal potential.

Conclusion

WAVES' 24h gain appears driven by a combination of delayed reaction to ecosystem developments (testnet upgrade, funding) and technical rebound in a neutral market. The lack of volume and persistent bearish MACD warrant caution. Key watch: Can WAVES hold above $0.691 (50% Fibonacci) to target $0.702 (38.2%)?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.